Continental break-up along strike-slip fault zones; observations from the Equatorial AtlanticM. NemčokA. HenkR. AllenP. J. SikoraC. Stuart10.6084/m9.figshare.3453032.v1https://geolsoc.figshare.com/articles/Continental_break-up_along_strike-slip_fault_zones_observations_from_the_Equatorial_Atlantic/3453032<p>The study focuses on Equatorial Atlantic margins, and draws from seismic, well, gravimetric and magnetic data combined with
thermo-mechanical numerical modelling.
</p> <p>Our data and numerical modelling indicates that early drift along strike-slip-originated margins is frequently characterized
by up to 10°–20° spreading vector adjustments. In combination with the warm, thinned crust of the continental margin, these
adjustments control localized transpression.
</p> <p>Our observations indicate that early-drift margin slopes are too steep to hold sedimentary cover, which results in their inability
to develop a moderately steep slope undergoing cycles of gravitational instability resulting in cyclic gravity gliding. These
slopes either never develop such conditions or gain them at later development stages.
</p> <p>Our modelling suggests that the continental margin undergoing strike-slip-controlled break-up experiences warming due to thinning
along pull-apart basin systems. Pull-apart basins eventually develop sea-floor spreading ridges. Margins bounded by strike-slip
faults located among pull-apart basins with these ridges first undergo cooling. However, spreading ridges leaving the break-up
trace along its strike eventually pass by these cooling margins, warming them again before the final cooling proceeds. As
a result, the structural highs surrounded by several source rock kitchens witness a sequential expulsion onset in different
kitchens along the trajectory of spreading ridges.
</p>2016-06-21 11:05:19cooling proceedsEquatorial Atlantic marginsdevelopment stagesadjustments controlvector adjustmentscyclic gravitymodellingsequential expulsion onsetridgesource rock kitchens witnessEquatorial Atlanticcooling margins